Water sking device



Dec. 17, 1957 I. c. E. NALE WATER SKIING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 25, 1956 Q INVENTOR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1956 INVENTOR. 6M

'Dec. 17, 1957 c. E. NALE WATER SKIING DEVICE" 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledNov. 23, 1956 INVENTORJQ -E S ates Patent WATER. SKIING DEVICE'ClilftirdETNale, Alabama City, Ala.

Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 624,163

3 Claims. (Cl. 9-21) This invention relates to a water skiing device. Ithas for its main objects to provide such a device that will be highlysatisfactory for the purpose intended, simple in structure,comparatively cheap to manufacture, easy to use and keep in workingcondition, and extremely durable.

In skiing when the rider is thrown from the skis and is forced torelease the towing line, or voluntarily lets go the line for any reason,the line is pulled along in the water by the towing boat and oftencauses trouble by becoming entangled in the propeller of the motorattached to the boat. By use of the present invention all towing linetrouble is overcome as will appear from the description.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawings andspecification.

By referring generally to the drawings it will be observed that Fig. 1is a plan view of the rear portion of a boat with the device accordingto the present invention removably attached for use on the rear panel ofthe boat; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a detail view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end viewof one of the supporting brackets; Fig. 5 is a view on line 5--5 of Fig.2 showing a supporting bracket; Fig. 6 is a detail view on line 6-6 ofFig. 2 showing parts of the ball type joints; Fig. 7 is an edge view ofFig. 6; Fig. 8 is a general enlarged view, part full and part insection, of the tow line drum of the device; Fig. 9 is a detail end viewof the drum showing the recoil spring in the drum and tow line on thedrum; Fig. 10 is a detail view showing the ball joint and line guide;Fig. 11 is a side view of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a detail view on line12-12 of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is a detail view on line 13-13 of Fig. 11.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the devicecomprises as its main part an assembled drum having ends 1 to whichcross members 2 are attached. A coil spring 3 is mounted in the drum andis attached by one end 4 to a shaft 5 that is held in fixed condition byclamps 6 on the supporting frame 7 that is removably attached by itsends 8 in brackets 9 mounted on the rear panel 10 of the boat 11. Theouter end 12 of the spring is attached to the drum at 13. The spring isset to wind tight when the line 14 pulls the spring clock-wise, and tounwind anti-clockwise when all pull on the line is released by anycause. A bar 15 with a ball 16 end is supported in a clamp type holder17 attached to the outer end of the frame. A telescope type tube in twoparts 18 and 19 is attached in fixed condition by end portion to theball bar. A wing screw 20 is mounted in the telescope tube to hold it indifierent lengths. Eyes 21, 22 and 23 are attached by their clampingportions on the telescope tube. The tow line is inserted through theeyes. A coil spring 24 is attached by its ends to small bolts 25 in theframe with the center portion of the spring attached adjacent theeye21.'on..the telescope -.tube-. The springgisset;

in tensionto hold the line guide'inanupwardposition=as. plainly showninFig. 2.

From .the foregoing it will appear that the device. is adapted .for,a,,.water skiing,tow-line.,to bepulle'dsclocks wise fromv the drum when,it".is..entirely wound around the drum, and if for. any reason the pull.on the lineis re-. leased the spring will unwindlanti-cloc-kwise.andwind. the slack line'around the drum thus preventing the idle .line frombecoming tangled in the propeller of the motor or any other object. TheV-shaped spring holds the device in an upward position.

The various parts of the device may be of any material suitable for thepurpose, but I prefer to use good grades of metal. Also the parts may bemade in different sizes and capacities, depending on the sizes of boatsand skis on which to be used.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I do not wish to limit same to the exact and precise detailsof structure, and reserve the right to make all modifications andchanges so long as they remain within the scope of the invention and thefollowing claims.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. A water skiing device of the character described comprising a framewith T-shaped ends adapted for removable attachment on the outer face ofa rear panel of a boat, a fixed shaft fixedly mounted in said frame, adrum mounted revolvably on said shaft, a coil spring mounted in saiddrum, said spring being attached by one end to said shaft with its otherend attached to the outer inner portion of the drum, said spring beingset so that when the drum is revolved with its top edge moving away fromthe boat the spring will wind up and when the top edge of the drum ismoving toward the boat the spring will unwind; a ski towing lineattached by one end to the said drum near its minor axis center portionwith the line wound around the drum when not in use; a bar with a ballintegral with one of its ends, a ball type clamping joint mounted on theouter end of the said frame, said ball bar having its ball in saidclamping joint; a telescopetype tube, said tube being attached on saidball bar, an adjusting wing screw mounted in said telescope tube foradjustment thereof, a plurality of eyes with integral clamping means,said eyes attached on said telescope tube, said towing line beinginserted through said eyes as guiding means for the line; a coil spring,said spring having its ends attached to said frame and having its middleportion attached to the eye clamping means positioned nearest to theframe.

2. A water skiing device of the character described according to claim 1and being further characterized by having two companion brackets adaptedfor removable attachment to the outer face of the rear panel of a boat,said frame T-shaped ends being of a size to fit slidably and removablyin said brackets when attached for use to the outer face of a rear panelof a boat.

3. A water skiing device of the character described comprising means fordrawing in a skiing line when not in use, said means including a framewith T-shaped ends adapted for removable attachment on the outer face ofa rear panel of a boat, a fixed shaft fixedly mounted'in said frame, adrum mounted revolvably on said shaft, a coil spring mounted in saiddrum, said spring being attached by one end to said shaft with its otherend attached to the outer inner portion of the drum, said spring beingset so that when the drum is revolved with its top edge moving away fromthe boat the spring will wind up and when the top edge of the drum ismoving toward the boat the spring will unwind; a ski towing lineattached by one end to the said drum near its minor axis center portionwith P atentedtDec. 1.7,. 1 957.

the line wound around the drum when not in use; a bar with a ballintegral with one of its ends, a ball type clamping joint mounted on theouter end of the said frame, said ball bar having its ball in saidclamping joint; a telescope. type tube, said tube being attached on saidball bar,'an adjusting wing screw mounted in said telescope tube foradjustment thereof, a plurality of eyes with integral clamping means,said eyes attached on said telescope tube, said towing line beinginserted through said eyes as guiding means for the line; a coil spring,said spring having its ends attached to said frame and having its middleportion attached to the eye clamping means positioned nearest to theframe.

4 V References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STA TES PATENTSDavis Nov. 27, 1900 McNeely Dec. 2, 1919 Baer Feb. 22, 1927 Sellon Mar.23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS France Aug. 17, 1905 France Feb. 2, 1926

